Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication
We shall meet again In his July message, Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes paid his respects to those we have lost in the pandemic and looked forward to better times ahead
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rethren, today feels like a new beginning, and I hope you will agree that it was appropriate to include in our meeting a memorial to all those who have been lost to us over the past 18 months or so. Too many will have left a huge hole in their families and will be much missed by their friends and lodges. We owe it to them to make certain that we now put all our efforts into ensuring a bright future for all. I would again like to thank the Grand Chaplain and all those who contributed to a most suitable tribute. It is almost inevitable when the world, this country and our organisation have been so badly hit by something largely beyond our control, that some people will add to the gloom and consider that nothing will ever get back to how it was before. I am one of those who suspects that what we have always considered normal is a longish way off, but that does not mean, brethren, that there are not good times around the corner and, hopefully not too long or steep a corner. If there are changes to many of our lives, and there almost certainly will be, that does not necessitate life being worse – very much to the contrary – and it is up to all of us to ensure that initially we return to the status quo. I want to 48
FMT Autumn 2021
emphasise the word ‘initially’ as our expectation should and must be to go beyond the status quo – and by some margin. So much has happened over our closed period that I really believe we can benefit from. Importantly, there also appear to be high quality candidates and from all walks of life. All the surveys that have been carried out to determine how we are viewed by the public have had a positive result compared with the previous survey two years ago which, in itself, was reasonably positive. That must surely mean that we are getting something right and, in my view, a great deal right. We have talked very openly about all the fantastic work that has been done during the lockdowns and, importantly, we have ensured that the press is aware of what has gone on and how much our members have been involved in their communities. As a result, there has been much more positive comment and, conversely, much less that is negative. I am not going to pretend that the days of Freemasonry being used for cheap shots in TV dramas or being blamed for all the ills in society are gone – they are not – but they are reduced and will reduce further the better we get at explaining what we stand for. I would like to think that, as a result of the many initiatives such as, but by no means only, First Rising, as well as the considerable efforts of the communications teams, both nationally and locally, the public perception of Freemasonry has improved immeasurably and certainly beyond anything I can recall from the past. The production, for the first time, of our annual report has also been an enormous step forward in this respect. We must and will ensure that this continues to be the case. Beyond this it is evident that our internal communications from the centre to the Provinces and Districts, from our Provinces and Districts to their lodges and our lodges to their members has also taken a giant step forward, which can only be a tremendous boost for the future. All the evidence that I have seen points to a large number of candidates waiting in the wings. They have waited long enough, and we must do all we can to ensure that they are admitted to our lodges as soon as is practical. What proves to be practical will vary from lodge to lodge. I would encourage them to consider multiple ceremonies, although, if a lodge is averse to the idea, this must be respected. Indeed, traditions should also be respected but, if for the good of the lodge and for Freemasonry generally, a temporary relaxation of that tradition would be beneficial, consideration should be given to that. It may well be, brethren, that the tradition concerned is not as long standing as some would like to think.
